Collapsible game table

ABSTRACT

A collapsible game table or the like such as used for table tennis having mating halves arranged edge to edge on a horizontal plane so that each half forms an end portion of an elongated table top, a wheeled frame supporting a plurality of vertical posts which are spaced along and in vertical alignment with the meeting edges of the table halves, each of said halves having a sleeve hinged to its inner edge and encircling one of said posts for sliding movement therealong, and collapsible legs for supporting the outer ends of the table halves, and a rigid pivot leg connecting the longitudinally medial portion of each half to the lower portion of the frame.

United States Patent [191 Hill Aug. 20, 1974 COLLAPSIBLE GAME TABLE Primary Examiner-Richard C. Pinkham Assistant Examiner-Theatrice Brown 75 l t M E.lllll SLP l, n. 1 men or ax M] n Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Douglas L. Carlsen; [73] Assignee: Frederick-Willys, lnc., Farmington, Andrew E. Carlsen Minn. 22 Filed: Aug. 31, 1973 [57] ABSTRACT Appl. No.: 393,602

A collapsible game table or the like such as used for table tennis having mating halves arranged edge to edge on a horizontal plane so that each half forms an end portion of an elongated table top, a wheeled frame supporting a plurality of vertical posts which are spaced along and in vertical alignment with the meeting edges of the table halves, each of said halves having a sleeve hinged to its inner edge and encircling one of said posts for sliding movement therealong, and collapsible legs for supporting the outer ends of the table halves, and a rigid pivot leg connecting the longitudinally medial portion of each half to the lower portion of the frame.

4 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures PAIENTEU we 2 01974 SHEU 10F 2 mmNk PATENTEDMIGZOIBH SHEH 2 or 2 & Km

COLLAPSIBLE GAME TABLE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Table tennis or Ping-pong tables occupy a large floor space and accordingly they are generally provided with a collapsible understructure so that the table may be folded and move to an out-of-the-way location when not in use. It is, of course, desirable the the collapsible structure be easy to operate and that it permit folding and opening of the table by one person.

It is also desirable that a Ping-pong table be adapted for single person practice use wherein one half of the table can be positioned vertically at one end of the other half of the table to serve as a backboard against which the person practicing the game may repeatedly hit the ball.

Tables of this type have been heretofore known as exemplified by the structures disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,318,269 to Kinn, U.S. Pat. No. 2,911,217 to Hirsch et al, U.S. Pat. No. 3,062,504 to Viets, and U.S. Pat. No. 3,567,222 to Robins. A major problem with these earlier tables has been the difficulty in converting them between erected and collapsed conditions particularly where only one person is on hand to perform the conversion.

SUMMARY or THE INVENTION A primary object of this invention is to provide a collapsible game table having two top halves forming a top playing surface when horizontally aligned edge to edge and supported on an understructure permitting tilting of either or both halves into vertical positions for storage of the table merely by lifting upwardly on the outer edge thereof.

Another object of the invention is to provide a collapsible game table having two flat top halves which may selectively be supported by the understructure in coplanar, perpendicular or parallel positions and wherein inner or adjacent edges of the top halves are captively connected to the understructure in all positions.

With these and other objects in view the invention broadly comprises providing the table understructure with at least a pair of vertical posts aligned transversely under the longitudinal center of the table and mounting a sleeve on a transverse axis on the inner edge of each top half, each sleeve slidably encircling one, but not the same one, of said posts whereby the inner edge of each top half is slidably connected to the understructure as the half is moved between erected and collapsed positions.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation of the table in open or fully erected condition.

FIG. 2 is a side elevation of the table in partially collapsed condition with one table top half disposed in vertical position near the inner edge of the other half to serve as a practice backboard for table tennis.

FIG. 3 is a transverse vertical section through the table taken on line 3-3 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary plan view of the longitudinally central portion of the table taken on line 4-4 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary plan view looking downwardly on the top half hinge structure at one side of the table.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary longitudinal vertical section through the central portion of the table shown in FIG. 4 with one table top half and its connecting hinge shown in a partially collapsed position relative to the other table structure.

' DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now more particularly to the drawings reference numerals will be used to denote like parts and structural features in the different views. While the invention may be used in other types of tables it is found to be most advantageously used in the structure of a Ping-pong or table tennis table such as here denoted generally by the numeral 10.

Table 10 has a top 11 consisting of first and second top halves formed of plywood or other fiat material.

These halves respectively designated as 12 and 14 are of equal rectangular shape and are supported in horizontal edge to edge relation over the floor surface F by a leg structure to provide a playing surface, when the table is in erected condition as shown in FIG. 1.

In further describing and claiming the invention the words longitudinal will refer to the direction lengthwise of the table as shown broadwise in FIG. 1 and the term transverse will refer to the direction widthwise of the table as shown in FIG. 3.

Each of the top halves 12 and 14 is provided near its outer edge remote from the other top half with a pair of transversely spaced end legs 15. Each of these legs has its upper end pivoted on a transverse axis as at 16 to the underside of the top and is yieldably held in erect position perpendicular to the top by means of a conventional collapsible brace 17.

The inner portions of the top halves 12 and 14 are supported by a center support frame denoted generally at 18. This frame has a pair of transversely spaced L- shaped legs 19 which have vertical portions or posts 20 aligned with the juncture of the top halves and horizontal portions 21 extending longitudinally under top half 12. A second pair of transversely spaced L-shaped legs 22 are positioned one beside each leg 19 and have vertical portions or posts 24 aligned on a transverse vertical plane with leg portions 20 and horizontal portions 25 extending longitudinally under the top half 14. Legs 19 and 22 at each side of the table are spaced apart slightly, as best shown in FIG. 3, and all of the legs 19 and 22 are rigidly interconnected by a pair of plates 26 extending crosswise on either side of vertical posts 20 and 24 and being bolted to each other preferably through the legs. Accordingly legs 19, 22 and cross plates 26 form a rigid unitary frame structure. Swivel type wheel carrying casters 27 are mounted on each of the leg portions 21 and 25 for rolling engagement with the floor F.

A first U-shaped pivot leg 28 has its bight portion 29 joumaled in brackets 30 mounted on the leg portions 21 with the upper ends of leg 28 pivotally connected as at 31 on a common transverse axis to the underside of the top half 12. A second pivot leg 32 which is identical to leg 28 has its bight portion joumaled in brackets 33 mounted on leg portions 25 with the upper ends of leg 32 pivotally connected as at 34 on a common transverse axis, parallel to the axis of pivot 31, to the underside of the top half 14.

The inner edges of the top halves 12 and 14 are connected by sliding pivots respectively to the legs 22 and 19. These pivots are formed by hinge members 36 which fit within recesses 37 which are cut out from the inner edges of the top halves. Each hinge member 36 has a plate 38 secured as by screws 39 to the table top half and a sleeve 40 on arm 41 connected to plate 38 by a hinge pin 42 (FIG. 6). Each sleeve 40 connected to top half 14 is slidable on a vertical post while each sleeve 40 connected to top half 12 is slidable on a vertical post 24. While legs 19 and 22 may be formed of any selected type of bar or tube stock they are herein shown formed of square tubing. Accordingly, the sleeves 40 are also square in cross section for a smooth sliding fit around the posts 20 and 24.

In use for normal play of the game of table tennis the table is in the open or fully erected condition shown in FIG. 1. Here the table top halves 12 and 14 are in edge to edge alignment to present a horizontal playing surface. While not shown a net is mounted to extend transversely across the top of the table in substantial vertical alignment with the adjacent edges of the top halves.

When the table is to be utilized by one person as a practice table it is converted to the condition shown in FIG. 2 to position top half 14 perpendicular to half 12. This is accomplished by lifting the outer portion of table half 14 so that it tilts inwardly about pivot axis 34 with the hinge members 36 thereon sliding downwardly along posts 20. A midway position during such inward tilting of top half 14 is shown in FIG. 6. It will also be understood that pivot leg 32 will swing inwardly about its pivotal connection with leg portions during such movement. Braces 17 are broken to collapse the legs 15 on top half 14 against the underside thereof. Once half 14 has been swung into the position shown in FIG. 2 it will stay there without any locking means due to the fact that the weight has been moved over center of the axis at 33 and sleeves 40 are resting upon the plates 26. In this condition the player stands at the end of top half 12 and hits a Ping-pong ball repeatedly against half 14 which serves as a backboard.

It will be understood that top half 12 may be moved to a vertical position and top half 14 left horizontal to serve the same purpose as just described. When it is desired to completely collapse the table for storage or movement to an out-of-the-way position both top halves l2 and 14 are moved to the position of half 14 in FIG. 2 and all of the legs 15 are collapsed as hereinbefore described.

Having now therefore fully illustrated and described my invention, what I claim to be new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

1. In a collapsible table having mating first and sec end table top halves adapted to form a single flat surface when positioned in horizontal juxtaposed position, a structure for supporting said halves over a floor surface comprising a. a wheeled frame having a first pair and a second pair of spaced apart upwardly extending vertical posts,

b. each table having a pair of spaced apart sleeves hingedly mounted on a common horizontal axis on the edge portion of each table half adjacent to the other table half, the sleeves on said first table half having sliding engagement with said first pair of vertical posts and the sleeves on said second table half having sliding engagement with said second pair of vertical posts,

c. a pair of collapsible-legs mounted on the underside of each table half adjacent the edges thereof remote from said adjacent edges, and

d. a pair of pivot legs spaced longitudinally of the table and having their lower ends pivoted to the frame and extending upwardly in diverging relation and having their upper ends respectively pivoted one to each table top half, with all of said pivots being on axes parallel to the hinge axes of said sleeves.

2.The subject matter of claim 1 wherein each of said vertical posts comprises a pair of rigid legs extending vertically in side by side relation, the sleeves hinged to the first half having a sliding engagement with one pair of the legs and the sleeve hinged to the second half having a sliding engagement with the other leg.

3. The subject matter of claim 2 wherein said posts are rigidly interconnected by a cross member which is independently secured to each leg with the legs in each support being held in separated condition so that the sleeves thereon might be moved past each other.

4. The subject matter of claim 1 wherein said frame comprises said posts, a cross member rigidly interconnecting said posts, a pair of rigid extensions extending longitudinally of the table in opposite directions from the lower end of each post, and each extension having a caster wheel mounted thereon adjacent to its extended end. 

1. In a collapsible table having mating first and second table top halves adapted to form a single flat surface when positioned in horizontal juxtaposed position, a structure for supporting said halves over a floor surface comprising a. a wheeled frame having a first pair and a second pair of spaced apart upwardly extending vertical posts, b. each table having a pair of spaced apart sleeves hingedly mounted on a common horizontal axis on the edge portion of each table half adjacent to the other table half, the sleeves on said first table half having sliding engagement with said first pair of vertical posts and the sleeves on said second table half having sliding engagement with said second pair of vertical posts, c. a pair of collapsible legs mounted on the underside of each table half adjacent the edges thereof remote from said adjacent edges, and d. a pair of pivot legs spaced longitudinally of the table and having their lower ends pivoted to the frame and extending upwardly in diverging relation and having their upper ends respectively pivoted one to each table top half, with all of said pivots being on axes parallel to the hinge axes of said sleeves.
 2. The subject matter of claim 1 wherein each of said vertical posts comprises a pair of rigid legs extending vertically in side by side relation, the sleeves hinged to the first half having a sliding engagement with one pair of the legs and the sleeve hinged to the second half having a sliding engagement with the other leg.
 3. The subject matter of claim 2 wherein said posts are rigidly interconnected by a cross member which is independently secured to each leg with the legs in each suppOrt being held in separated condition so that the sleeves thereon might be moved past each other.
 4. The subject matter of claim 1 wherein said frame comprises said posts, a cross member rigidly interconnecting said posts, a pair of rigid extensions extending longitudinally of the table in opposite directions from the lower end of each post, and each extension having a caster wheel mounted thereon adjacent to its extended end. 